Mark Rickert ‘The Tone Poet’ Review

Tone poem/symphonic poem: a musical composition that portrays a specific story or mood to be played by an orchestra. Thus, The Tone Poet one who composes the latter. Mark Rickert’s story is about one such poet.

When Cameron Blake was 6 years old he was in a near fatal car accident. Both his parents and brother perished yet he was brought back from the brink of death but not before hearing the astral music that greets the dead. Years later and Cameron is now a renowned composer yet he is still haunted by that piece of astral music from so long ago. Try as he may, he has never been able to recreate the tone, disillusioned he is at a crossroads in his career. That is, until Maestro Leonin Bloom comes calling.

Bloom invites Cameron to visit him at his home in Holloway where he owns an orchestra hall and a communal compound for his orchestra the Echoes. Bloom feels he can help Cameron tap into his inner self and recreate the music that has been haunting him all his life. Ah, but what’s in it for Maestro Bloom and his Echoes. They have been living a life without death, a life of darkness. They want to be brought back into the “Light.”

As always there are consequences for tampering with things not meant to be, and as Cameron finds himself getting closer to his goal, he begins to see the folly of his aspirations, but for Bloom there is no turning back. Already using the denizens of Holloway to feed the demons born from the discord of their lives the orchestra is prepared to sacrifice Cameron for the ultimate composition.

This is an excellent first novel, one that makes you think. The characters are well developed and the flow is easy. I am really looking forward to more from this author. Mark Rickert was a journalist for 8 years in the US Army Reserves and has contributed stories for various military publications. Check out Mark’s blog to find out more about him.